Just 45 minutes' drive from Namibia’s capital takes you to this latest offering from the cool Habitas hotel group. It's a doddle to get to yet feels as remote as it is beautiful. 12 luxurious tents are set upon a hillock so you look down across an endless vista of savannah and bush. Inside, you feel spoilt and as safe as houses - a welcome sanctuary from the daytime heat. Outside, there’s every chance of experiencing some of the Big Five wildlife (all except buffalo) and much more besides. What we loved was their desire to go beyond the usual safari format, offering a more holistic experience combining adventure, culture and wellness. So apart from excellent game drives, we enjoyed morning yoga, spa treatments, and fascinating medicinal plant walks that unlocked traditional secrets, as well as gin tasting and a surprise bush dinner and drumming class.
At the end of the day, you can simply kick off your boots and sink into a massive beanbag for a movie night beneath the heavens. You’re mesmerised by the vista by day and the stars by night. In the afternoon our minds would go blank as we cooled off by the pool – lying there agog at the sight of distant dust devils spinning across the vast plains below. Some guests spend weeks here simply to unwind, while others stay at the beginning or end of a trip around Namibia. For us, it was a fantastic, easy add-on to a holiday in Cape Town.
Highs
- Gazing out at the stunning far-reaching views from the spacious tented rooms, refreshing infinity pool and chilled lounge areas
- An incredible sense of remoteness without the need for hours of driving or expensive light aircraft flights
- Sunrise yoga on the deck overlooking the 50,000-hectare reserve – spotting distant giraffes while standing in tree pose was a first for us!
- Delicious, unfussy food and well-judged menus served by friendly, welcoming staff
- The alternative holistic and cultural experiences set it apart from other safari lodges; there's afternoon meditation, African drumming classes, painting at sunset, and bushman tales around the fire
Lows
- You might not see as much wildlife here as you would in more famous African reserves, but you won't have the crowds of those places
- There's a wilderness drive included in the rate, but you'll need to pay extra if you want to go into the elephant and lion reserve
- In winter it can get windy and chilly at night, but each season has its advantages
- They're still trying to strike the right note on pool-side tunes - piped music may not always be to everyone's taste, but they will change whenever prompted
Best time to go
June to July are the driest months with the biggest drop in temperature at night, while Jan to March has the highest rainfall - but it never rains for long, and average daily temperatures always range from 20-35C. You'll be very unlucky to miss a day because of rain. We visited in October when days were hot and nights cool.
Our top tips
Stay for as long as possible and lose yourself in this mesmerising place. If you get the chance, go for one of the medicinal bushman walks which we found fascinating.
- Safari Lodge
- 12 rooms
- All meals included
- Over 12s only
- Open all year
- Heated Pool
- Spa
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
Rooms
12 large, tented rooms are dotted across a hillside overlooking the vast plains. All are set on raised wooden platforms with the same sturdy design and layout, combining solid frames and canvas walls. Inside there’s plenty of space to spread out, and the bespoke furnishings, huge comfy bed, floor cushions and a decent shower make for civilised bush living. Best of all, you can roll up the outer walls to let in the light and those amazing views (the staff will happily assist). The aircon managed to cool us down by day, whilst at night you can zip up to feel secure from any creepy crawlies. You’ll find binoculars, wildlife reference books, homemade cookies and free drinks in the minibar. We loved sitting out on our deck with a coffee, spotting birds and cute dassies scurrying among the rocks.
There's not much to choose between the rooms as all have great views and are similar in design. The only thing to differentiate between them is how far you have to walk to get to the main restaurant and pool area. Rooms 1 and 2 are the furthest (5-10 minute walk) but most private; rooms 6, 11 and 12 are the closest. Be aware that room 10 is near the generator.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Bathrobes
- Binoculars
- Coffee / tea making
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- Safe box
- Terrace/balcony
- WiFi
Eating
The tented open-air restaurant offers daily changing menus of delicious, healthy and unfussy dishes (a welcome change from the usual safari overindulgence). All your meals are included as well as house drinks like beer, wine and soft drinks; spirits cost extra.
Start the morning early with rusks and coffee before your game drive, then return for breakfast of fresh fruit and yoghurt, a platter of cheese and charcuterie or a rejuvenating juice blend, followed by something hot - maybe pumpkin pancakes with maple syrup, shakshuka with poached eggs, or tasty Namibian-style baked beans with traditional boerwors (sausage).
Lunches are light with a couple of choices: perhaps a salad, veggie tacos or firewood chicken with mango atchar yoghurt and herb dressing with slaw. We finished with homemade chai-spiced ice cream and mixed berry sorbet, perfect in the midday heat.
After sundowner drinks (either on the game drive or back at the gin bar), guests are offered a set three-course dinner with a simple starter of soup or samosas and a choice of meat or vegetarian mains that change daily. Our eland filet with charred cauliflower and chimichurri dressing and lamb chops with baba ganoush and herb pesto were excellent - both succulent and full of flavour. Stay a few nights and you might catch one of their magical bush braais, where a bar, barbecue feast and long candlelit tables are set up in a sandy clearing.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Restaurant
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Savannah sunrise and sunset game drives: head off with expert guides who will share their knowledge of flora, fauna and Namib bush culture. It feels like you have this 51,000-acre reserve to yourselves - we only ever saw one other jeep. Sightings included elephants, lions, dozens of white rhino, herds of antelope and even a shy hippo, but leopards and cheetahs were harder to find
- Alternative optional activities are on offer, depending on the day: perhaps sunrise yoga, a medicinal walk with bushmen, painting, African drumming, meditation or a movie night
- Visit the animal sanctuary to get close to the most adorable creatures - many of them orphans
- Lounge by the rock-edged infinity pool, read in the shade, or simply be mesmerised by the views
- Take a pew at the picturesque gin bar and taste your way through the drinks as the sun goes down
- Spa treatments using natural local ingredients will send you into a state of bliss, from hot stone massages to rose quartz crystal facials
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Birdwatching
- Meditation
- Plantlife / flora
- Safaris
- Swimming
- Walking safaris
- Well being
- Wildlife
- Yoga
Kids
This is a grown-up safari lodge so only kids over the age of 12 can stay. One extra bed can be added to each of the tents.
Best for:
Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
Extra Beds Available
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Habitas Namibia is set within a 51,000-hectare reserve, approximately one hour east of the Namibian capital, Windhoek, and 45 minutes from the airport.
By Air:
Fly into Windhoek Hosea Kutako airport (international and domestic flights), which is a 45-minute drive from the lodge.
From the airport:
Transfers can be arranged, or you can hire a car.
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Windhoek Hosea Kutako 30.0 km WDH
Other:
- Beach 425.0 km
- Shops 70.0 km
- Restaurant 70.0 km